Chapter 7 Henry's Deliberate Lowballing

• Thinking of this, Henry stood up and said in a cold tone, "Become my personal secretary, and I'll agree to your terms."
• Just ... that simple?
• Freya was bewildered. Before she could say anything, Leo came in and escorted her out of the office.
• Freya's new workspace was right outside Henry's office. Hesitantly, she placed her bag on the desk and glanced at the 'battlefield' she had just escaped from. She was filled with a deep sense of regret.
• Why did I impulsively agree to his condition?
• But if I didn't agree, what other choice did I have?
• "Personal secretary, my foot!"
• She glanced at the empty desk. Despite her strong reluctance, for the sake of her twins, she had no choice but to sit down and make the best of it.
• "Zoe, what's the deal with the new girl? Wasn't she fired by her boss?"
• Everyone seemed puzzled by the return of this 'odd one out'.
• After all, she was initially brought in by Leo and had now suddenly become the president's personal secretary. What tricks did she use?
• In just a few days, she had managed to climb above the chief secretary.
• Zoe listened to the murmurs around her. She walked towards the pantry with a coffee cup. Through the door crack, she saw Ash Howell and Molly Eland chatting.
• These two were the most gossip-prone in the office. Ash, being particularly simple-minded, could be useful ...
• Half an hour later.
• Freya was bored at her desk when she noticed a group of women approaching with considerable fanfare.
• "Wow, so this is the new personal secretary to our president." Ash was greeted with a big smile as she emphasised the word personal.
• Freya stood up, puzzled, facing a group of flamboyantly dressed women. She found the situation to be tricky.
• "Yeah, in all these years, our president has never had a personal secretary. You must be something special!"
• "It's not just about looks, is it? She must be good at ... other things too."
• Their laughter erupted at that insinuation.
• Freya frowned slightly. She looked at those women and smiled coldly at them. She asked, "Are you jealous of me?"
• What?!
• They stared wide-eyed at her question. They had come to pick a fight, yet their insults seemed to bounce off her. Their target wasn't bothered by that.
• Just then.
• The door to the CEO's office opened. The women fell silent, barely daring to breathe under Henry's imposing presence.
• Everyone was curious about how he would treat the new personal secretary. Surprisingly, Henry merely glanced at Freya before ignoring her completely.
• Once he left, the atmosphere quieted down. Henry's polished exterior reminded them of his ruthlessness.
• The others now looked at Freya with unexpected sympathy.
• "Ahem—"
• Zoe cleared her throat.
• She suddenly didn't mind Freya being above her and extended a hand to show her goodwill. Zoe said, "We're all colleagues now. Let's help each other out!"
• Zoe's initiative prompted the others to also offer encouragement.
• Freya was speechless.
• After a busy day, Freya finished her work and left the office. When she left the building, the sky had turned dark.
• As soon as Freya arrived home, a little one came bouncing up to her.
• "Mommy's home!"
• Jasmine tugged at her pants, asking to be picked up. Winston held her hand, guiding her to the sofa and gently massaging her legs.
• Unable to get a hug, Jasmine joined in, punching Freya's legs and speaking with a mouthful of candy. "Mommy, you have worked hard!"
• Winston added, "If it's too tiring, you should quit. Jasmine and I can take care of you!"
• "But if I don't work, how will I find you a dad?"
• Jasmine's eyes widened. She munched on her candy and squeezed Freya's legs. The little girl said, "Mommy must be exhausted from work. Winston, and I will blow on your legs to make it better!"
• Freya's heart melted at her children's cuteness.
• "I'm not tired. How was your day?"
• "Great!"
• "A bit boring!"
• As soon as the children finished speaking, Freya's phone rang. The ringtone interrupted the peaceful moment between her and the twins. Freya's expression turned complex when she saw the numbers on the phone screen.
• Turning to the twins, she smiled and patted their heads. Freya said, "Mommy needs to take a call. You two go play."
• Jasmine nodded heavily and said, "Okay!"
• Winston grunted softly in reply.
• Before answering, Freya stepped out onto the balcony and closed the door.
• "Have you secured the project yet?"
• Bill's voice was soft but insistent, treating Freya as a tool for his benefit.
• "Almost."
• Freya's tone was icy, clearly uninterested in the conversation.
• Bill lost his temper when he sensed her impatience. He warned harshly.
• "You better not deceive me. If you mess this up, watch out for your kids!"
• "I know!"
• Freya cut him off before he could finish. Her eyes blazed with anger. She hung up after giving a short response.
• She took a moment to calm down before returning to the apartment. Freya looked at the cosy decorations and her busy twins, then made a decision.
• I need to find another place to live.
• Bill had sold me out once; he could do it again.
• This time, it was a project. What about next time?
• I had to eliminate this threat soon.
• The next day.
• Freya stood nervously at the CEO's office door. She took a deep breath, then knocked.
• Knock, knock!
• "Come in."
• Hearing the response, Freya cautiously pushed open the heavy door.
• Inside, she saw Henry behind his large desk. She greeted him respectfully and fawningly, "Mr. Jackman."
• Her voice was soft, like a feather brushing against his heart.
• Henry merely glanced at her. His gaze was indifferent.
• His reaction made Freya feel uneasy. He had promised her the project; was he going to back out? Would an esteemed president like him lie to her?
• "Mr. Jackman," Freya called again, deliberately prolonging the last note. She asked, "Did you forget something?"
• Henry raised an eyebrow, noncommittal.
• Freya was about to prompt him further. Henry's long fingers tapped on the desk, and a document slid towards her.
• "Is this what you're talking about?"
• "Yes, it is!" Freya's face lit up. She quickly walked over and picked up the document. Freya smiled broadly and said, "Thank you, Mr. Jackman!"
• She skimmed through it, relieved to see it was indeed the project proposal for the Loop Road commercial area.
• When she saw the profit-sharing ratio, she froze. The Lambert Group, as the contributing party, only secured a mere five percent profit for such a massive project.
• She looked up in a daze and met Henry's gaze. His eyes were filled with cruel amusement.
• Freya instantly realised this.
• Henry had deliberately lowballed the price.